Club History | Season 2001-2002
Dunfermline finished 6th with 45 points. Top scorer was Stevie Crawford with only 9 goals. Marco Ruitenbeek managed 11 shut outs. Barry Nicholson played 41 games with Andrius Skerla and Stevie Crawford both on 40.
As the new season approached, fans indulged in the dream of getting back into the top group in Scottish Football and perhaps a challenge for Europe. Could the two Jimmies, who had revolutionised the football on offer, maintain the progress? The three new signings had all been captains of their previous clubs, Jack de Gier from NEC Nijmegen, Gus MacPherson from Kilmarnock and Dave Nicholls from Falkirk. Kevin McLeish had also been given a contract and the five transfer listed players ( Andy Tod, Rob Matthaei, Junior Mendes, David Moss and Lee Bullen) were all still at the Club. After two friendlies, against Sheffield Wednesday and Walsall, it was still July when the serious stuff got under way.
Motherwell, at East End Park started the SPL campaign. A great display of attacking football brought a 5-2 victory with Lee Bullen and two goals each from Barry Nicholson and Jack de Gier gave hope for the season ahead. In the Motherwell side was Roberto Martinez, who went on to a successful managerial career. Whilst remaining on The Pars coaching staff, Hamish French continued his playing career by moving from Alloa to Cowdenbeath.
August began with a good 2-0 win away to St Johnstone and this gave confidence for the next game, which was at home to Rangers. It was misplaced and a 4-1 defeat was the outcome. Scott Wilson was in The Gers starting line up. A 3-2 defeat at Tannadice dropped Athletic to 5th place and things were no better the following week, when Hearts inflicted a 1-0 defeat at East End. Andy Tod was signed for Bradford City by Jim Jefferies and Toddy scored on his debut. Junior Mendes moved south to Lincoln City.
September began with a blank week, due to Internationals and when it did get under way, The Pars lost 3-1 at Celtic Park. Things got markedly worse with a 5-1 trouncing at Easter Road and, when Jim Leishman brought his Livingston side to East End Park and won 2-1, the month was becoming a disaster with two games still to play. Without playing particularly well, Athletic did manage to win their home CIS Cup tie, against Alloa, by 3-0 but the last game, also at home, produced another poor show, ending in a 2-0 defeat from Kilmarnock.
The third round of the CIS Cup began October`s fixtures and the lamentable run of form continued when Inverness Caley Thistle won on penalties after a 1-1 draw at East End Park. Thankfully, the board did not panic and rewarded when Dundee were beaten 1-0, also at East End. The team were unlucky to lose 3-2 at Pittodrie but the last game of the month ended well when two priceless Jack de Gier goals earned a 2-1 home victory against St Johnstone. The third of the transfer listed players, Rob Matthaei returned to Holland.
November opened with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Fir Park but the following week saw an excellent performance in recording a 2-0 win at Tannadice. Still away from home, Dunfermline capitulated meekly, as usual, to Rangers, 4-0. At last a home game and the month closed with a 1-1 draw against Dundee United. Jack de Gier returned to Holland to Twente Enschede and the fourth transfer listed player, David Moss, went on loan to Ayr United. This only left Lee Bullen and, to everyone`s delight, he was taken off the list. Youngster Scott McNicoll was also given a contract.
December started much more promisingly with a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle but it was Old Firm next and another 4-0 defeat, this time at home to Celtic. Barry Nicholson got the goal which sealed a 1-0 win at home to Hibs. Either side of Christmas brought two away 0-0 draws, first against Livingston and, on Boxing Day, against Kilmarnock. Sean Kilgannon, signed from Middlesbrough, made his debut in this one. The last game of the year brought Aberdeen to East End Park and Lee Bullen scored the only goal in front of 7,774 fans. Michael Panopoulos, signed on loan from Portsmouth made his debut. The Pars finished the year in seventh place.
The first game of the New Year was a Scottish Cup Tie, at home to Motherwell. Scott Thomson and two from Stevie Crawford, saw Athletic through 3-1. Gary Mason scored the goal which saw The Pars bring back three points from McDiarmid Park before Motherwell returned to Dunfermline, this time on SPL business. The repeat win 3-1 set The Pars up nicely to try again against Rangers at East End. A great first half and two Scott Thomson goals had Dunfermline in dreamland. Unfortunately, all the old failings came back in the second half and the Ibrox side won 4-2. Mark McGarty had gone, on loan, to Raith Rovers. January ended with a horror story when First Division Ayr United dumped The Pars out of the Cup 3-0 at Somerset Park.
February started with a match at home to Hearts which finished all square at 1-1. Seyni N`Diaye had been signed, on loan, from Tranmere Rovers and played in this game. Michel Doesburg became the latest to return to Holland. Next it was a trip to Celtic Park and another drubbing to the tune of 5-0. To complete the month were two away fixtures and satisfactory results, 2-2 at Dens Park and 1-1 at Easter Road.
Lee Bullen scored to win all three points, at home to Livingston and the momentum continued when Seyni N`Diaye and Stephen Hampshire got the goals which secured a 2-0 win at home to Kilmarnock. This lifted The Pars into the top six but a 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie meant that Athletic approached the split in seventh place, two points behind the two clubs above them, namely Hearts and Kilmarnock. A crowd of 7,299 fans witnessed The Pars beating Dundee 2-0 at East End Park whilst Hearts and Kilmarnock both lost and Athletic reached the split in 5th place and would compete with the top teams. The sad news that Jim Fraser had tragically died aged only 55 put a bit of a dampener on things.
The post split fixtures were somewhat meaningless in that there was no chance of the championship or qualification for Europe but Aberdeen were held to a 0-0 draw at East End Park. John Potter had moved to Clyde and David Moss back to Falkirk. Two former Pars were also on the move with Andy Tod at Hearts on loan from Bradford City and Greg Shields at Kilmarnock on loan from Charlton. The next three games were all away and ended in defeats 5-0 at Celtic Park, 2-0 at Tynecastle and 4-1 at Almondvale. The season ended with an encouraging performance at home to Rangers. Stevie Crawford got the goal to earn a 1-1 draw. Young Kevin McLeish was handed a debut but the focus of attention was a final appearance of Ian Ferguson who was given a rousing send off from both sets of fans before his emigration to Australia.
Justin Skinner and Seyni N`Diaye were not offered new contracts but arriving would be Gary Dempsey from Waterford and Derek Stillie from Wigan Athletic. One more sad item of news was the death of former vice chairman, Bill Braisby. Dunfermline finished 6th with 45 points. Top scorer was Stevie Crawford with only 9 goals. Marco Ruitenbeek managed 11 shut outs. Barry Nicholson played 41 games with Andrius Skerla and Stevie Crawford both on 40. The two Jimmies had delivered improvement with a top six finish and progress towards qualifying for Europe.
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